I checked in with LSU a week ago and asked if there was still an ongoing search for offense.
“If it’s the perfect fit,” was the answer I got.
Consider Angel Laya “the perfect fit.” Jay Johnson is always looking for left-handed hitting, and he got it Friday in Laya who picked the Tigers over Texas and Arkansas in a heated SEC battle. No February lineup is chiseled in stone in early July, but LSU’s has certainly taken shape over the last month.
As expected, LSU went hard into the transfer portal and landed a highly heralded class.
Cynics can absolutely point back to last year and suggest that doesn’t much. Still, as far as draftability, the additions this year dwarf last year’s. That’s an important note.
Oregon standout Angel Laya has entered the transfer portal after a breakout season that saw him hit .296/.396/.934 with 14 home runs, 10 doubles and 27 walks to 34 strikeouts. Tons of contact in the zone and above average EVs. pic.twitter.com/NU6g6fEke4
— Jacob Rudner (@JacobRudner) June 15, 2026
WHAT WE KNOW
Laya had a monster first season at Oregon. He hit .296 with 14 homers and 10 doubles. His season-long OPS was .934, and he stole four bases.
He’s 6-foot-3 and 206 pounds and played right field for the Ducks.
He set freshman records in Eugene for home runs, total bases and runs scored. Over Slot projects the lanky slugger as a first round pick in the 2028 MLB Draft.
THE FIT
This makes William Patrick’s path to the field a little tougher. Laya is a really good athlete with a rocket arm which perfectly projects to right field. Bino Watters and Jason Wachs are likely to fit at the other two outfield spots and are more proven college hitters than Patrick.
The other piece to this puzzle is that Patrick suffered a hand injury during summer ball. He’s expected to be ready for fall practice, but he’s losing at bats that could have been valuable.
But this isn’t really about Patrick. It’s about Laya who is a potential star at LSU.
He’s got a gorgeous left-handed swing and serious pull side power. He didn’t drive the ball out of the ballpark to the other way as a freshman, but it feels like that is coming because of his frame, exit velocities and swing mechanics.
This is a middle-of-the-order bat in a lineup that all of a sudden has a lot of those.
HUNT’S PROJECTION
I’ve got Laya in right field every day hitting between second and sixth. I think he’s a .300 hitter who hits 13-to-18 homers.
B8 | Angel Laya hits his first career triple. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/WtbUx4npKI
— Oregon Duck Baseball (@OregonBaseball) March 4, 2026
This is a difference maker.
I typed out a lineup, and it’s pretty frightening.
- Jason Wachs CF
- Cade Arrambide C
- Bino Watters LF
- Omar Serna DH
- Angel Laya RF
- Steven Milam SS
- Mason Braun 1B
- Cade Kurland 2B
- Dawson Park 3B
Patrick will compete, and some talented freshmen will try to crack the lineup. However, this could be like 2023 where there just isn’t room for a freshman. Every play in that 1-9 has 10-plus homer power. On paper, this looks like a lineup that can compete for championships. That said, we know it all comes down to arms.
LSU will be a top five team in the preseason. That’s not worth a thing, but it’ll happen in February.
